Women and Politics

Catalog description

From voting rights to reproductive freedom, the American state has fundamentally shaped the social, economic, and political possibilities for women. Consequently, since the founding of the American republic to the present, women have contested the boundaries of their exclusion, pushed for greater equality, and argued for full citizenship rights. This course begins with a consideration of the political significance of gender in American politics. After a brief review of the American policymaking process, the more specific dynamics of gendered policies will be addressed with attention paid to political argument, mobilization, and institutions. The latter portion of the course surveys a range of topics such as education, employment discrimination, domestic violence, welfare, and abortion rights. The course concludes with an analysis of contemporary currents regarding gender politics and policy.